Digital Authentication Fights Counterfeiting

Counterfeited products account for a lot of losses for legitimate manufacturers, as well as a lucrative opportunity for criminals. “In the high-tech sector, not only do manufacturers and OEMs face the possibility of end products being faked, they run the risk of counterfeit components entering into – and infecting – the supply chain,” said the Alliance for Gray Market and Counterfeit Abatement (AGMA) “In everything from semiconductors and software to cell phones and laptops, when the difference between a genuine product and a clever fake cannot be determined at first glance – measures to ensure the authenticity of a purchase must be taken.”

The good news is that emerging technologies such as digital authentication are creating tools that are up to the task of safeguarding against fraudsters. “The information age and rise of the internet have grown the counterfeit trade by leaps and bounds, but they have also given us better means to fight it in the form of new technologies,” AGMA President Sally Nguyen said.

Electronics is one of the most commonly counterfeited products, but the problem overall is even more immense. “The amount of total counterfeiting globally has reached to 41.2 trillion in 2017 and is bound to reach $1.82 trillion the year 2020 which includes counterfeiting of all equipment/products from defense equipment’s to counterfeiting of watches,” said the recent Marketsandmarkets Global Brand Counterfeiting Report, 2018.

The problem is bigger than dollars and cents, though, as counterfeit products can be traced to degradation of a company’s brand as well as unsafe products going into the hands of consumer. Old school methods including crystal taggants, color-changing ink, and basic holograms, which are manual and require special tools, have proved less than perfect in spotting counterfeit goods. In addition to requiring special training, these methods often are insecure and counterfeiters have gotten enough experience to fake them. However, they are still being used.

Digital authentication, which uses QR codes, 2D tags, and net-generation holograms, cuts through many of these issues. The necessary tool, a cell phone, is in everybody’s hands. They are difficult to copy and efficient to use.

“The cost of technology is getting more and more cost effective – some technologies can cost less than one cent per application,” the AGMA told EBN. “The range (or types) of technology has also expanded allowing more choices. In addition, the recent improvement in cell phone cameras has played a significant role in using cell phones as the one authentication tool that’s readily available to practically everyone around the world.”

The AGMA recommends a layered security approach for manufacturers to create a sound solution. The organization offers a handful of tips:

Secure the supply chain

Educate authorized channel distributors and resellers

Advise customers to only purchase from authorized suppliers

The infographic below from the AGMA offers more detail about the problem of counterfeiting.

13 comments on “Digital Authentication Fights Counterfeiting”

I would actually like to see some sort of Blockchain technology in the fight against fraud and counterfeiting. I mean, we all know that it's meant to be used as a way to secure online transactions and payments, but why not as a stamp of approval on items that need to be verified as authentic? It seems like it could be a very good way to use the technology if you ask me. We just need to figure out a way to implement it!

We are all aware of the fact that advancing technology could provide an opportunity for cyberattacks to advance as well. However, this does not mean that we can and should only stand by the sides and watch. We need to safeguard ourselves and our products by all means possible to ensure that our business can and should go on without being compromised.

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